Gas-engine starter.



G. E. DANIELS & E. S. MONIGHOLS.

GAS ENGINE STARTER. APPLIUIATION FILED mac. 2?, 1909.

Patnted Feb. 21, 1911.

2 sums-summ- 1.

Charles E Damels I St EllsworTh-5 M5Nicho) aw M 11.3. DANIELS & s.'MoN1cHOLs.

GAS ENGINE STARTER. urmoumn mum DEC 21, 1909.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911. 1

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In 5 w m k B UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. DANIELS AND ELLSW'ORTI'I S. MCNICHOLS, OF .ATCHISON, KANSAS.

GAS-ENGINE STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Application filed. December 27, 1909. Serial No. 534,975.

To all whom itmay concern:

- Be it known that we. CHARLES E. DANIELS and Emswon'rn S. l\IoNIorroLs,'citizcns of the United States, residing at Atchison, in the county of Atchison and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engine Starters, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates more particularly to means for starting explosive en gines, particularly those of the multiple cylinder type without the necessity of cranking, or employing other similar mechanical devices for initiating the movement of the engine. l

The primary object of the invention is to provide a compact, simple and effective system, by means of which an engine can be started with ease and expedition, the mechanism'being so arranged and grouped that it can be readily understood, andis at all times entirely accessible.

The preferred form of construction is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein v Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the principal portion of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a face view of the supporting plates and the elements associated therewith.- Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the system.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawmgs.

As already stated, the apparatus isparticularly' designed for use in connection with a. multiple cylinder explosive engine, and in Fig. 3, such an engine is shown diagrammatically, the same having four cylinders 4,. in which operate reciprocating pistons 5 connectedby pitmen 6 with an engine shaft 7.

'Each cylinder is provided with the usual mechanism for controlling the supply and exhaust from the cylinders, which mechanism is, however, not shown in order to avoid confusion. Furthermore, each of the cylinders has an igniter 8 that may be of any well known type.

In .the present invention there is employed in connection with this engine, a supplemental charge-forming device or carbureter 9 having baflie plates 10 therein, and arranged to receive a supply of gasolene or other suitable charge-producing fuel. A reservoir 11 for air under pressure is likeyiseprovided, and has a pipe 12 leading 'therefrom and depending in the carburetor 9, as shown at 13. A valve 14: is preferably located in the pipe 12. This reservoir 11 receives its supply from any suitable source, as for instance, a pump 15 connected thereto, which pump may be operated by hand, or by any other desired agency.

Extending from the carburetor 9 is a charge-supply pipe 16 that leads to a dis tributing chamber or box 17. From this box extend a-plurality of branch pipes 18 that are connected to the diiierent cylinders, as shown in Fig. 3, and have suitable check valves 19 locatedadjacent to said cylinders. The distributing chamber 17 is preferably supported by a hollow coupling bracket 20 secured to the dashboard 21 or other suitable part of the apparatus associated with the engine, and fastened to the opposite side of this dashboard is a supporting plate 22 thatis preferably spaced from the dashboard, as shown inFig. 1. The inlets to the branch pipes 18 are surrounded by shoulders 23 constituting valve seats, with which cooperate valves 24: that are located in the distributing chamber and are, normally held to said seats by coiled springs'25. These valves have actuating stems 26 that pass through.

suitable packing glands 27 formed on the distributing chamber, and said stems project through the lower portion of the plate 22, being provided on their projecting ends with actuating knobs 28.

Means. auxiliary to the ordinary actuatingmeans for the igniters is also employed.

Thus, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5,

a. suitable source of electrical energy is designated 29. which may be that employed in the ordinary operation ofthe igniters, this source being in a plurality of auxiliary cir cuits 30 connected respectively to the different igniters. and having therein individual circuit closers 81 that are mounted on the rear side of the supporting plate 22, and

comprise stationary brackets 32 and spring elements movable into and out of engage ment with the brackets. Ind1v1dual push buttons 34:, slidablymounted in the upper portion of the supporting plate. constitute means for moving the spring elements 33 into engagement with the bracket elements 32 to close the circuits.

L .Ilhere is also employed in .LhG mechanism, an indicator to show the position of the dlf' ferent pistons of the cylinders. As is well known. to those skilled in the art, the cylinders are u'sually fired the order of 1, 3, 4, 2, and-in order to show which cylinder of the engine is at or" near the firing point, a-

rotary pointer 35 is employed that is car ried by a shaft 36 journaled in the supporting plate-22 ;and in a bracket 37 secured to Y the rear sideof thedashboard, thiswpointer having asmanyterminals as there are cylinders to the engine, and each being appro-' priately designated; The shaft 36 is suit ably geared to the engine shaft. so as to.rotate therewith. Thus. in the present 'emvbodim ent,said shaft has a sprocket wheel 38, and the engine shaft as shown diagranr. matically in Fig. 3, has a-corresponding sprocket wheel 39. A sprocket chain 40 passes around, and thus, transmits motion from one sprocket wheel to the other.

There is mounted on the outer face of the supporting plate22, an adjustable-ring 41 that is provided with an indicat-ing element 42. The ringcan be clamped against rot-a- I tion and indiflerentadjusted positions by the clips 48. i

The operation of the apparatus is substantially as follows: Assuming the engine at a standstill, itwill be obvious that one of the pistons will have justpassed over the cen'ter,while another wlll be just starting on the compression stroke. a 2 1 controlling the branches which supply the cylinders of. these particular pistons with. .charges are opened, 1t

gas under pressure Wlll be introduced therewill be evident that into, inasmuch as the compressed air in the reservoir 11 will pass through the carbureter and discharge through the branches into said cylinders. Moreover, the particular cylinders to be charged, can be readily ascer- .40

tained-by an inspection of the indicator.

-' Having now charged the two cylinders, the one that has just passed its center is'fired by pressing the proper push button, which is'also" designated, as shown. This explosion starts .the en ine, and the second cyl inder being also charged, the charge therein will be compressed, and the igniter, which will automatically operate'when'the engine becomes started, will explode this second charge.

From then on, the engine will op. crate. I I Y From the foregoing, itis thought that the construction, operation and many advantages ofthe hereindescribed invention will be a parent to those skilled. in the art, with out' urthe'r description, and it will be under- ,i' stood that various changes in "the" size,- v shape, proportlon, and minor details of con- If .now, the Va ves struction may be resorted to without theparting from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantagesoflhe invention. Having thus "fully described our invention, what weclaim as new, and desire-to seally operated valves located in the chamber and respectively controlling eachbranch, an

individual operating device for each valve,

and auxiliary means for"'o1; erating-the igniters.

2..The combination with a multiple cylinder explosive engine, of an igniter for each cylinder, a charge supplying means including a 'pipehaving a distributing chamber, a plurality of branch -pipes leading from the distributing chau'lber to the different cylinders, a plurality of spring closed valves located in the distributing chamber,

.and each having an individual actuating device, auxiliary means for operating the igniters including separate circuit closers for each igniter and individual operating de: vices for each circuit-closer, and an indicator operated bythe engine.

3. The combination with a multiple cyl inder explosive engine, of an igniter for each cylinder, a supporting plate, a rotary indicator mounted thereon and driven by the engine, a charge forming device, a reservoir vfor air under pressure connected thereto, a pipe leading from the chargeforming'device and having a distributing chamber, branches leading from the distributing chamber to the cylinders, a plurality of valves controlling the branches and having independent mounted on the supporting plate, and means cuit closer for each mounted on the supporting plate, and an individual actuatlng de actuating devices for operating the igniters including a ci1'-' i05 vice for each circuit closerlikewise mountedon said plate.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix I Y our signatures in the presence of'two wit-' nesses.

CHAR-LES E. DANIELS. 'ELLSWORTH S. MCNICHOLS. Witnesses 2-.

Z. EJAoKsoN, Com N. TERRY. 

